How to properly gift license plates to another person: legal methods and pitfalls

Transferring state registration plates (GRP) from one owner to another is a procedure that raises a lot of questions. Many people mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply remove the license plates from the car and give them to the new owner. In practice, this process is strictly regulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation and requires compliance with bureaucratic formalities. In 2026, the rules remain the same, but nuances have appeared related to the electronic services of the traffic police and changes in the work of the MFC.

In this article we will look at all legal ways to transfer numbers, from standard deregistration to deed of gift through a notary. You will learn what documents will be required, how much it will cost and how to avoid common mistakes due to which the traffic police may refuse re-registration. We will pay special attention to situations where they want to give plates to a relative, friends, or sell them along with the car - in each case the algorithm of actions is different.

It is important to understand that state registration plates are not just metal plates, but traffic police registration object. Their transfer is equivalent to changing the registration data of the vehicle. Therefore, a simple oral agreement or receipt does not work here: official registration through government agencies is required.

If you plan to donate numbers, be prepared for the fact that the procedure will take from several days to a week (depending on the workload of the MREO). And in some cases - for example, when transferring numbers between regions - additional checks may be required. To save time and nerves, read on for step-by-step instructions taking into account all the current requirements for 2026.

1. Is it possible to legally give license plates from a car to another person?

Yes, transfer of state registration plates between individuals permitted by Russian legislation, but with a number of restrictions. The main regulations governing this process:

• 📜 Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 399 (dated June 26, 2018) - regulates the procedure for registering a vehicle and actions with license plates.
• 📜 Government Decree No. 1764 (dated December 21, 2019) - establishes the rules for issuing and replacing state licenses.
• 📜 Chapter 30 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation — regulates the donation of property, to which registration plates are equated.

Key conditions for the legal transfer of numbers:

1. The numbers must be deregistered to the traffic police before transfer. It is not possible to donate signs that are currently installed on a vehicle.
2. The new owner must register them within 10 days after receipt (if plans to use).
3. It is prohibited to give license plates that are wanted, have traffic police restrictions or do not comply with current standards (for example, old Soviet signs).

Interesting fact: since 2020, Russia has a rule according to which license plates are tied to the owner, not the car. This means that you can keep your signs even after selling the car - you don’t have to hand them over to the traffic police. However, transfer to another person still requires official registration.

2. Number transfer methods: which one to choose?

In 2026, there are three main ways to transfer state registration plates. Each has its own pros, cons and design nuances:

Transfer method	Deadlines	Cost	When it suits
Deregistration + deed of gift	3–7 days	1 500–3 000 ₽	For transfer to relatives or friends without selling the car
Transfer when selling a car	1 day	800–2 000 ₽	If the numbers are transferred along with the car to the new owner
Through a notary (donation)	5–10 days	3 000–5 000 ₽	For maximum legal protection (for example when transferring valuable numbers)

The fastest and most cost-effective option - transfer of license plates when selling a car. In this case, the new owner can keep the old signs, and the seller can get new ones. However, this method is only suitable if the car is actually for sale. If you just want to give the numbers (for example, to a relative), you will have to use one of the other two methods.

Please note: starting from 2023, the traffic police has tightened control over the transfer of “beautiful” license plates (with repeating numbers, rare series, etc.). If you are donating such signs, the inspector may request additional documents confirming the legality of the transaction.

3. Step-by-step instructions: how to donate license plates through the traffic police

Let's consider the most universal way - deregistration of numbers with subsequent transfer to another person. This method works whether you are selling a car or not.

Step 1. Preparing documents

You will need:

• 📄 Passport of the owner of the numbers (original + copy).
• 📄 Vehicle registration certificate (STS) - if the license plates are still installed on the car.
• 📄 PTS (if any) is not required, but may be required for verification.
• 📄 Application for deregistration (a sample can be downloaded on the website traffic police).
• 💳 Receipt for payment of state duty (1,500 ₽ for deregistration + 2,000 ₽ for new numbers, if required).

Step 2. Deregistration of numbers

Contact any traffic police department (not necessarily the place of registration) with a package of documents. The procedure takes about 1–2 hours. You will be given:

• 📋 Certificate of acceptance and delivery of rooms.
• 📋 Certificate of deregistration (if the license plates were on the car).
• 🔑 The registration plates themselves (if you do not hand them over for recycling).

Step 3. Transfer of numbers to the new owner

Now you can transfer the numbers to another person. To do this:

1. Compose gift agreement (sample below).
2. Submit the numbers along with the acceptance certificate.
3. The new owner must register them in his name within 10 days.

Remove license plates from the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate|Draw up a donation agreement|Transfer the acceptance certificate|Pay the state fee for re-registration (new owner)|Receive new STS indicating new numbers-->

Sample room donation agreement (simplified form):

DONATION AGREEMENT No. [number]
city [city] "[date]" [month] [year]

Citizen [full name of the donor], passport: series [number], issued [by whom and when], registered at the address: [address], hereinafter referred to as the "Donor", on the one hand, and citizen [full name of the donee], passport: series [number], issued [by whom and when], registered at the address: [address], hereinafter referred to as the "Done", on the other hand, have entered into this agreement as follows:

1. The Donor shall transfer free of charge into the ownership of the Donee the state registration plates [plate number] deregistered with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate [date, number of the acceptance certificate].
2. The donee undertakes to register the specified registration marks in his name within 10 days from the date of signing the agreement.
3. This agreement comes into force from the moment it is signed and does not require notarization.

Signatures of the parties:
Donor: ___________ /[full name]/
Donee: ___________ /[full name]/

What to do if the traffic police refuses to transfer license plates?

If the inspector refuses to accept documents for the transfer of numbers, request a written refusal indicating the reason. Common reasons:

- Numbers are wanted or have restrictions.

- The complete package of documents has not been collected (for example, there is no acceptance certificate).

- The new owner has outstanding traffic fines.

In this case, contact a higher traffic police department or file a complaint through the portal traffic police.rf.

4. How much does it cost to donate numbers and who pays?

The costs of transferring state registration plates depend on the chosen method. Let's consider all possible expenses:

1. Cost of deregistration of numbers:

• 💰 State duty for deregistration: 1 500 ₽ (if you still have the numbers).
• 💰 State duty for disposal of numbers: 0 ₽ (if you hand them over to the traffic police).
• 💰 Production of new numbers (if required): 2 000 ₽.

2. Cost of transferring numbers to the new owner:

• 💰 State duty for registration of license plates for the new owner: 2 000 ₽.
• 💰 Notarization of the gift agreement (optional): 1 000–3 000 ₽.
• 💰 MFC services (if you apply through them): 300–500 ₽.

Who pays the costs?

The law does not regulate who should pay for the transfer of numbers. In practice:

• 🔹 If numbers are given as a gift, usually all expenses are covered by donor (deregistration, notary).
• 🔹 If license plates are transferred when selling a car, the parties often split the costs in half.
• 🔹 Always pays state duty for registration new owner.

Important: if you transfer “beautiful” numbers (for example, with repeating numbers or a rare series), the traffic police may request documents confirming their origin. In this case, an estimate of the cost of the rooms may be required, which will add RUB 2,000–5,000 to the total amount.

5. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Registration of number transfer is a procedure with many nuances. Even a small mistake can lead to traffic police failure or problems in the future. Here are the most common mistakes:

❌ Error 1: Transferring numbers without deregistration

Many people think that it is enough to simply unscrew the license plates from the car and give them to another person. However this gross traffic violation (Article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). Penalty for driving without license plates or with someone else's plates - 5 000 ₽ or deprivation of rights for 1–3 months.

❌ Error 2: Failure to comply with the 10-day deadline for registration

The new owner is obliged to register them within 10 days from the date of receipt of the numbers. If this is not done, the numbers will be considered unaccounted for and their use will be illegal. Late penalty: 1 500–2 000 ₽.

❌ Mistake 3: Using an oral agreement instead of a contract

Without a written agreement (gift or sale), it will be extremely difficult to prove the transfer of numbers. In case of disputes, the traffic police will not take into account oral statements.

❌ Error 4: Transferring numbers with restrictions

If there are fines on the numbers, they are wanted or have other restrictions, their transfer is impossible. Before registration, check the status of the signs through the service traffic police.

❌ Error 5: Incorrect execution of the gift agreement

The contract must indicate:

• 🔘 Passport details of both parties.
• 🔘 Exact number of registration plates.
• 🔘 Date and number of the acceptance certificate from the traffic police.
• 🔘 Condition for registration within 10 days.

If at least one of these points is missing, the contract may be declared invalid.

6. Features of transferring numbers between regions

If the donor and recipient are registered in different regions of the Russian Federation, the procedure becomes more complicated. Main nuances:

1. Deregistration

You can deregister numbers at any traffic police department on the territory of Russia, regardless of the region of registration. However, if you remove signs from a car registered in another region, the inspector may request additional documents (for example, a certificate of no fines).

2. Registration by the new owner

The new owner must register the numbers in his region. To do this he will need:

• 📄 Donation agreement (or other transfer document).
• 📄 Acceptance certificate from the traffic police.
• 📄 Passport with registration at the place of residence.
• 📄 Receipt for payment of state duty (2,000 ₽).

3. Deadlines and checks

During interregional transfer, the traffic police may conduct additional checks:

• 🔍 Checking the history of numbers (for theft, restrictions).
• 🔍 Reconciliation of data of the donor and recipient with the FMS database.
• 🔍 In some cases - requesting a certificate from the previous MREO.

Because of this, the process may take up to 10–14 days (instead of the standard 3–5).

4. Possible problems

⚠️ Attention: If numbers are transferred from a region with one code to a region with another (for example, from 77 (Moscow) in 78 (St. Petersburg)), new owner won't be able to use them without changing the regional code. In this case, you will have to order new signs with the current region code.

Exception: if the numbers have area code "116" (interregional) or “199” (transit), they can be used in any subject of the Russian Federation without replacement.

7. Alternative methods: sale and inheritance

In addition to donation, there are other legal ways to transfer state registration plates. Let's take a closer look at them.

🔹 Numbers for sale

Legislation of the Russian Federation does not prohibit the sale of GRZ, but in practice this is difficult to implement:

• 💰 We need to conclude purchase and sale agreement (the sample is similar to the deed of gift, but with the price indicated).
• 💰 When selling “beautiful” numbers (for example, A001AA 77) may require an assessment of value for tax purposes.
• 💰 Buyer will have to pay 13% personal income tax from the transaction amount (if it exceeds 250,000 ₽).

In practice, the sale of numbers is often registered as a gift to avoid taxes. However, this is risky: if the deal is discovered, both parties could face penalties for tax evasion.

🔹 Inheritance

Numbers can be inherited on a general basis:

1. Include them in will or hereditary mass.
2. After the death of the owner, the heir must contact a notary to register ownership.
3. With the received certificate of inheritance, contact the traffic police to re-register the numbers.

Features:

• 🔘 The heir must within 6 months from the moment of the owner’s death, register the rights to the numbers.
• 🔘 The state fee for re-registration will be 2 000 ₽.
• 🔘 If there are several heirs, the numbers go to the one indicated in the will or who has a priority right (by law).

🔹 Transfer in case of divorce

If the numbers were purchased during marriage, they are considered joint property of spouses. During a divorce you can:

• 🔄 Divide (if there are several sets).
• 💰 Sell and divide the proceeds.
• 🎁 Transfer to one of the spouses by agreement.

For registration you will need marriage contract or a court decision on the division of property.

8. Frequently asked questions about number transfer

❓ Is it possible to give license plates without removing them from the car?

No, that's impossible. According to Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 399, the transfer of registration plates is allowed only after they are deregistered with the traffic police. If you simply unscrew the numbers and give them to another person, this will be considered a violation (Article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

❓ How long does the procedure take?

The period depends on the method of transfer:

• 🔹 Deregistration + deed of gift: 3–7 days.
• 🔹 Transfer when selling a car: 1 day.
• 🔹 Through a notary: 5–10 days.
• 🔹 Interregional transmission: up to 14 days.

You can speed up the process by making an appointment with the traffic police through official website.

❓ Do I need to pay tax when donating numbers?

No, Donation of registration plates is not taxable, since their market value usually does not exceed 3,000 rubles (tax-free limit for close relatives is 4,000 rubles per year). However, if you give “beautiful” numbers (for example, with a rare series), their value may be assessed higher, and then the recipient will have to pay 13% personal income tax.

❓ Is it possible to give numbers to a non-resident of the Russian Federation?

Yes, but with a number of restrictions:

• 🔹 Non-resident must have residence permit or temporary registration in the Russian Federation.
• 🔹 Number plates can only be placed on a car registered in Russia.
• 🔹 When traveling outside the Russian Federation in a car with donated license plates, problems may arise at the border (it is recommended to obtain a certificate from the traffic police).

❓ What to do if the certificate of acceptance and delivery of numbers is lost?

If you have lost the acceptance certificate, contact the traffic police department where you deregistered the license plates. They will give you duplicate of the act after checking the data. To do this you will need:

• 📄 Passport.
• 📄 Application for issuance of a duplicate.
• 📄 Receipt for payment of state duty (350 ₽).

Without an act, re-registration of numbers to a new owner is impossible.